How to Make Knit and Crochet Slippers Non-Slip – 7 Tried and Tested Ways

I get asked this question quite often, crocheters wondering how to make make crochet slippers non-slip. Unfortunately, until writing this post, I wasn’t really sure. Fortunately, I decided to figure it out! I had heard of a few methods in crochet groups and Facebook comments but hadn’t tried any of them myself. I decided it’s time to gather up all the ideas I can find and put them to the test.

1. Hot Glue

This method actually works surprisingly well. Hot glue is something most people have on-hand so it is an easy go-to method. It’s has more gripping power that I expected, as it doesn’t feel super grippy to the touch. I tried this method on my Quick and Cozy Slippers and was pleasantly surprised. It’s grippy without being SO grippy that you trip when you walk. However, it dries very hard, and might be uncomfortable to walk on if your slipper soles are only one layer. Also, because it’s a soft plastic, I would guess that it would harden and crack over time and need to be reapplied.

Pros:
– Inexpensive
– Most will have it on-hand
– Grips without tripping
– No drying time Cons:
– May be uncomfortable to walk on
– May need to be reapplied over time

2. Puffy Paint

Puffy paint is another good option that is easy and inexpensive. I put lines of puffy paint on the bottom of my Summer Flip-Flop Slippers. It has a bit more gripping power than hot glue, but it dries softer, so you wouldn’t have the possible discomfort of walking on hard beads of plastic. The only complaint I have is that you need a day to let the paint dry before you can use your slippers.
I have only been using mine for a few days, so I can’t say for sure, but I have heard people complain that it peels off and needs to be reapplied frequently. I will update this post as I find out more!

Pros:
-Inexpensive
– Grips without tripping
– Soft to walk on

Cons:
– Takes several hours to dry
– May need frequent reapplication

3. Silicone Caulk

I knew this one would work well! One could say that it works “too well” because the gripping power on these babies is intense. I tried out silicone on my Chunky Boat Shoe Slippers. You might be able to tone down the grippiness by applying the silicone much lighter than I did. However, if you apply it thick, it forms almost like a shoe-sole, so you can wear them outside and give them a bit of light wear.
You do need to let the silicone dry for 24 hours before using them.

To apply the silicone, I simply squirted out a generous amount on the bottom of my slippers, and using a gloved hand, spread it around the sole evenly.
Get this silicone on amazon.

Pros:
-Forms a waterproof sole to your slippers
– Very grippyCons:
– Can be messy to apply
– Can be too grippy and be a tripping hazard

4. Felt Sole

When I began making this, I didn’t realized the the felt, in and of itself, did not make the slippers non-slip. That being said, I still decided to include it because you can use any of the methods here, and make them work better. For instance, using hot glue on a thick, felt sole would alleviate the con of walking on uncomfortable plastic. I made the Crochet Galilee Slippers to test out this method and used a tutorial found at Red Handled Scissors. I really enjoyed making this slippers and will be using this felt method in the future. Get the thick felt on Amazon here. I opted to use her exact method so I used Puffy Paint.

Pros:
-professional finishing touch to your crochet slippers
– Comfortable to wearCons:
-isn’t non-slip itself and must combine with another method
– takes more working time that other methods

5. Shelf Liner

This was another method that was surprising! I tested this method using a FREE crochet pattern by Good Knits. The shelf liner is the perfect gripping, and is sewn onto the bottom of the slippers. It’s made to line shelfs on the kitchen, so it’s got a bit of softness to it, which provides added comfort to your finished slippers, especially if they are thin.
To add shelf liner to your slippers, simply eyeball two ovals (or use the suede template from #7), one for your heel and one for the ball of your foot. Using this leather punch, punch out holes around the pieces. Pin the pieces of shelf liner in place on the slipper and hand-sew them in place with yarn and a darning needle.

Pros:
– added comfort to thin slippers
– Can be easily removed

Cons:
– Need special supplies
– Extra sewing required

6. Plasti-Dip

Plasti-Dip is a specialty air-dry rubber compound that is specifically made to coat objects and make them non-slip. It was an obvious choice to try as a non-slip solution to crochet slippers. I tried this method on my 30 Minute Slippers, and used a tutorial by Tails to Tell Studio. I applied three coats and because my yarn was very fuzzy, I used a popsicle stick to flatten the fuzzy fly-aways. It worked wonderfully! It has THE PERFECT amount of grip, not so much that you trip, but enough that you don’t slip.

This is probably my most favorite method. It’s the perfect amount of grip, it provides a bit a cushioning on the bottom, and it’s the most durable of all the methods. PLUS, the smell of leather reminds me of my dad (that might just be a bonus for me, though).

I made up this simply template for you to try. Since leather can be a bit pricy, using two separate pieces lets the leather go farther and you can use one sheet for a few pairs of slippers. Download the template here.

Then, punch holes around the outsides of the pieces. Pin in place and sew with yarn and a darning needle.

Conclusion:
I can honestly say that all these methods WORK. My least favorites would have to be Silicone. It was quite messy, and it’s grip power was too intense. It could definitely be used if it’s all you have on hand. Puffy Paint and hot glue were the easiest to apply, but the Suede, Plasti-Dip and Felt were my top three.

Comments

Now you’ve done it!
Your baby flip flops were the inspiration to start this granny crocheting. I enjoyed it so much compared with knitting useful items.
My family, however, wasn’t enjoying the finished gifts though, because they slid on every surface at home except carpeting. I stopped crocheting and missed the meditative mood and mindfulness it makes in me.
With your thoughtful, most complete post though, I believe I am armed to return to the creative, quick and pleasurable patterns that first piqued my interest in crochet!
Thank you for making the time to share, Beth.
You and your family are inspirational.
Ever,
Mimsy

I bought the non slip material you use to put on carpets, you buy a roll and cut to size of slipper it sews on easily and works like a charm as it is slightly ribbed, live in south Africa so not sure what your alternative would be, use it on all my crochet slippers

I use Plasti Dip on slippers and rugs. I only apply 2 coats, and it’s always worked fine. In fact, the Plasti Dip lasts longer than the slippers! You can find it at Home Depot, though if you want a specific color you might need to order it online. I like the simplicity, just spray it on!

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